HOW NATURE STUDY SHOULD BE TAUGHT 183 



as beneficial for self-examination. A conscientious 

 teacher is her own best critic. Every one desires 

 success, but success depends on fitness. If you 

 are not achieving the results that you desire in 

 nature study, look carefully for the causes. If 

 you cannot mark at least " fifty per cent." on 

 these test questions, and cannot soon bring 

 them to a higher mark through your own efforts, 

 then beg the principal to allow you to exchange 

 duties with some other teacher who can lead your 

 pupils in nature study. Adaptation and enthu- 

 siasm are keynotes to success. One hundred per 

 cent, of teaching ability in science strongly im- 

 plies, but does not guarantee, an equal grading in 

 nature study. 



Here are a few of the useful questions. They 

 will suggest others adapted to special cases : 



1. If I were to leave teaching and take up 

 other duties, such as those of married life, for ex- 

 ample, how much time each day would I devote 

 or wish to devote to an increasing acquaintance 

 with nature ? 



2. Do I regard the time devoted to nature 

 study as a recreation, a duty, or a burden ? 



3. How much time each day do I devote to 

 observing or reading about facts in nature that I 



